Steering and braking mechanism.



N0; 797 MB. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. J. D, METGALF. STE-BRING: AND BRAKING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1905.

abbot Mm JEFFERSON D. METCALF, OF DARRlNG-TON, itlliSidlEdSlPli.

STEEFHNG AND BFiAKlNfii WiEUHANlSfW,

No. 797,4.ee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 19055.

Application filed January 4, 1905, Eeriai No. 239,659

To all whom it many concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON D. iVln'roALr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Darrington, in the county of Wilkinson and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering and Braking Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steering and braking mechanisms designed especially for use upon motor-vehicles, and has for its objects to produce a simple, inexpensive device of this character in which the braking mechanism is connected with and operable by the steeringbar, whereby the latter may be manipulated for guiding and controlling the speed of the vehicle, and, further, to equip the machine wit-h an auxiliary brake in convenient reach of the operator and adapted for immediately and completely stopping the vehicle.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a motorvehicle equipped with my improved device. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the vehicle, which is hollow, as shown, and provided with a front axle 2 and a rear axle 3, carrying transporting-wheels at, the front axle being journaled in a bearing 5, pivoted, as at 6, to the outer end of a coupling or draw bar 7 and adapted to be swung in a horizontal plane by means of a steering-post 8, equipped with a handle-bar which may be conveniently reached from the front seat 9 of the vehicle for turning the axle 2 and front wheels in guiding the machine.

Pivotally connected with the rear end of the body 1 is a suitable hanger or hangers 10, carrying a horizontal brake-beam 11, provided at its ends with shoes 12, arranged in position for engagement with the rear wheels at, there being connected with the brake-supporting mechanism a brake-rod 13, extended longitudinally of and through the body 1 and engaged at its forward end with the steering-post 8, which latter is pivoted at its lower end, as at 14:, upon the axle 2 to swing in a vertical plane toward and from the front of the 1nachine. It is apparent that under this arrangement when it is desired to check the speed of the machine the operator may move the upper end of the stecring-post outwardly, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and thereby through the medium of the rod 13 exert traction upon the bral;esupporting hangers 10, thus causing the latter to swing inward toward the rear end of the machine and move the shoes 12 into contact with the rear wheels, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. It is obvious that under this construction the op erator will be enabled not only to guide the machine in its travel over the ground, but also to check the speed when eircun'istanccs require by means of the steering-post 8, which latter thus serves the twofold function of a steering and brake-operating member.

Extended longitudinally of the machine at one side thereof and journaled for rotation in suitable bearings 15 is a braking-rod 16, provided at its forward end with a vertical operating-lever 17, arranged within convenient reach from the seat 9, the said rod having at its rear end an integral angularly-bent engaging portion or shoe 18. This rod, which is maintained .in normal position by means of a suitable spring 19 and with the shoe 18 in the po sition illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, may through the medium of the lever 17 be rocked on its axis for moving the shoe outward between a pair of the spokes of the adjacent rear wheel 4 to thereby positively stop the movement of the wheel and instantaneously and completely check the movement of the vehicle, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensive device in which the guiding and braking mechanisms are under complete control of the operator, it being understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new A vehicle-body having front and rear axles provided with transporting-wheels, a brakebeam pivotally supported to swing toward and from the rear wheels, a steering-bar pivotally connected at its lower end directly with the In testimony WhereofI ELlfiX my signature in front axle and adapted to swlng' toward and presence of two Witnesses.

from the front of the machine, and operative JEFFERSON D. METGALE connections between the steering-bar and brake-supporting means whereby the brake l \Vitnesses: may be actuated by movements of the steer- J. M. PEARCE, ing-bar.

R. H. RICHARDSON. 

